Joey Chestnut made stunning five-word admission to cops after bar fight caught on video

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World eating champion Joey Chestnut stunningly told cops he did not remember slapping a man at a bar earlier this year because he “really was pretty drunk,” newly released police video shows.

Chestnut was accused of getting physical with a man at around 1 a.m. on March 21 while at Joe’s Grille in Westfield, Ind., and when officers from the Westfield Police Department went to ask him on March 22 about the alleged fight, the hot dog-eating legend stated he had no memory of the incident.

Body camera footage obtained by The California Post on Wednesday shows that after a cop told him about the claims and asked, “Do you have any idea what I’m talking about?” Chestnut said flatly, “No.”

Joey Chestnut told Westfield Police Department officers he had no recollection of slapping a man at a local bar in March. Westfield Police Department
Competitive eater Joey Chestnut eats pierogies during a halftime competition during the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Arena on November 21, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” the San Jose State alum added.

The policeman explained surveillance video from the bar showed Chestnut whacked the man in the face after the two appeared to have some kind of issue over a handshake. But Chestnut said he was “at a loss.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Maybe I felt like I was being threatened or outnumbered. I don’t know.”

After he was shown the video of the battery, Chestnut reiterated that he didn’t remember anything “at all.”

Joey Chestnut was shown video of the battery at the bar during his encounter with police in March. Westfield Police Department
Joey Chestnut said he could not remember the incident even after being shown the video. Westfield Police Department

“That does not look nice,” Chestnut said. “I feel really bad about that.”

Chestnut was ultimately charged over the matter, and court records show that on April 20 he pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor battery resulting in bodily injury. He was sentenced to 180 days of probation.

Despite the legal situation, Chestnut is planning to defend his championship in the famed Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest next month, according to his attorney Mario Massillamany.

“My client took full responsibility for this misunderstanding and resolved the matter by pleading guilty to a lesser-included offense of Class B misdemeanor battery, one of the lowest-level misdemeanor offenses under Indiana law,” Massillamany said in a statement to The Post in May.

Joey Chestnut holds the Mustard Belt and a tray of hot dogs after winning the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Paul Martinka

“The resolution of the case, including a sentence of six months of probation, reflects what this incident truly was — an isolated misunderstanding rather than anything more serious. We appreciate the professionalism of the parties involved in reaching a fair and appropriate outcome.

“Mr. Chestnut is moving forward and remains committed to being a positive member of the community.”

The battle for the Mustard Belt will take place once more on July 4 in Coney Island.


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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com